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Danny Boyle says third 28 Years Later film is on the "back burner"

At a London Film Festival talk, director Danny Boyle said 28 Years Later: Part III is on hold, citing a lack of financing and writer Alex Garland's work on Elden Ring.

3 outlets · 1L · 2C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: Deadline
Image: Variety
Image: /Film

1 / 3

The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2Director Danny Boyle said on 9 October 2026 that the next film in the 28 Days Later series, 28 Years Later: Part III, is "on the back burner at the moment". Mixed · 2He made the remarks at the London Film Festival, in a Q&A reported by Deadline and a BFI talk with Puck's Matt Belloni reported by Variety. Mixed · 2Boyle said he hopes the film will be made if financing can be secured; Variety quotes him saying Alex Garland "has written a fantastic script. We just need money."

Centre · 2Boyle also tied the pause to Garland's schedule, saying Garland "has been off doing his own film", which is a big project; the film is A24's adaptation of Elden Ring, which Garland writes and directs. Centre · 1/Film reports that Elden Ring is due in theaters on 3 March 2028. Mixed · 2The third film was set up in the closing scenes of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, in which Cillian Murphy makes a brief uncredited cameo as Jim.

Centre · 1/Film notes that Deadline has said Murphy is "in talks" to appear in a further film, but calls that term inconclusive; Murphy's return is unconfirmed. Left · 1Variety said it had contacted Sony, which released 28 Years Later and The Bone Temple. Centre · 1Boyle was at the festival with his new film Ink, about Rupert Murdoch, Larry Lamb and the rise of The Sun. He said it was hard to raise money for it, and that StudioCanal eventually financed it, with Netflix buying US rights.

Centre · 1Deadline reports Boyle's next priority is an Antarctica-set film, if he can raise the budget. Left · 1Variety also reports that Boyle explained using AI to face-swap Margaret Thatcher onto an actor in Ink. He said he did not ask her estate for permission.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left1 outlet

Framing
Variety pairs the franchise update with Boyle's comments on using AI in Ink, giving the AI Thatcher controversy equal billing in the headline.
Emphasis
AI face-swap of Thatcher, estate permission, and the delay as a warning that the film is unlikely soon.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention Ink's financing difficulties or the Antarctica project.
Charged language
“unlikely to be arriving anytime soon”
For example
“The third “28 Years Later” film is unlikely to be arriving anytime soon, Danny Boyle has warned.” — Variety

Centre2 outlets

Framing
Deadline reports the quote straight alongside Ink's financing; /Film treats it as a fan-facing franchise update with background on Murphy and the earlier films.
Emphasis
Financing, Garland's schedule, Murphy's possible return, franchise history.
Leaves out or plays down
Neither covers the AI Thatcher remarks.
Charged language
“brace themselves”“begun to shamble”
For example
““We found it very difficult to raise the money for this,” Boyle said.” — Deadline
“Fans of the 28 Days/Years Later franchise may want to brace themselves” — /Film

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.